"SURPRISE....... You've to take a class"

[mazzybear]

Apparently it's international women's week at the start of March and, to get in the spirit of it, our governing body has written to it's members to encourage them to have a female instruct a class (if the instructor isn't already a female of course). With our two Dan grade females having jobs that don't allow them to a lot of classes and, me being the highest ranking female outside of the Dan grades, that honour has fallen on me. I've been given my choice of night (Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday) I'm thinking as a Tuesday is fitness and conditioning rather than technical stuff, then that's the night to go for. But breaking it down isn't so easy. My rough sketch for a 90 minute class goes something like this:

15 min warm up (shuttle runs, coaching sticks, stretches etc)

20 min medicine ball exercises (twists, drops, throws etc)

20 min pad work hand drills (combinations, speed work)

20 min pad work leg drills (combinations, speed work)

15 min warm down (light jog, stretches)

How does this sound? Too much, not enough, ok? Of course my instructor will be there keeping a careful eye on things and ready to step in should I need him.

Mo.

[Lupin1]

I'd mix up the 20 minutes straight of the same thing. That's a long time.

Personally, I'd do it more as a "stations" type thing. Have three different sets of movements at each station (medicine ball, pad work, leg drills) and split the class into three groups-- each at one of the stations. Have them rotate every five minutes while you circulate giving advice and motivation. At the end of each 15 minute cycle, give them a quick rest and water break while you explain the new movements at each station for the next cycle (if you have the supplies, write out the movements ahead of time and post them somewhere). Repeat three times.

Will keep people interested and motivated longer and managing something like that makes you look like a pro instructor.

[Montana]

Is this a martial arts class, or a fitness class?

Peoples ideas of what a martial arts class consists of varies, but I've always taught my classes so that my students learned martial arts, not building better bodies. That's what they were paying me for. If they wanted to get in better shape, join an aerobics class.

And yes of course, just learning and practicing the arts gets you in better shape, but what the poster described would make me want to look elsewhere for a MARTIAL ARTS CLASS.

[JR 137]

Is this a martial arts class, or a fitness class?

Peoples ideas of what a martial arts class consists of varies, but I've always taught my classes so that my students learned martial arts, not building better bodies. That's what they were paying me for. If they wanted to get in better shape, join an aerobics class.

And yes of course, just learning and practicing the arts gets you in better shape, but what the poster described would make me want to look elsewhere for a MARTIAL ARTS CLASS.

I think they have a conditioning class alongside traditional classes. Nothing wrong with that. My CI offers a "kumite conditioning" class every so often. Not required, and it's not part of the curriculum. It doesn't count toward attendance toward promotion, not that that's his benchmark.

If there's a demand for it by the student body, the teacher is willing, and it's not a requirement, by all means do it IMO. Being in better shape can only help.

[JR 137]

I'd follow the format that's in place. Don't make drastic changes, but do the things you'd like to do and alter things you think should be altered. I wouldn't go in and change the entire structure of the class.

[The Pred]

Is this a martial arts class, or a fitness class?

Peoples ideas of what a martial arts class consists of varies, but I've always taught my classes so that my students learned martial arts, not building better bodies. That's what they were paying me for. If they wanted to get in better shape, join an aerobics class.

And yes of course, just learning and practicing the arts gets you in better shape, but what the poster described would make me want to look elsewhere for a MARTIAL ARTS CLASS.

Agreed, I've come to realize if one does Kata with intensity and proper breathing, that's a workout in itself. Heck even doing Kihon drills is extremely helpful.

[Wado Heretic]

I like the general idea behind this; there is the occasional macho attitude in Martial Arts that needs breaking down. It is better than it once was but it is still there, so an interesting idea.

Jr 137 makes a good point, and Lupin1's suggestion is sound, and is probably the way to go, but it's your class and you are the expert on it, so do what you want. Saying that I would perhaps reduce the medicine ball from 20 minute to 10 or 15 minutes, and change up the hand and arm drills so you alternate in 10 minute sessions, instead of a 20 minute straight session. Accidents happen when people are fatigued, so you want people warmed up, but still fresh when doing pad work. Maybe work in some shadow boxing, or going through kata at a good pace, in a circuit like drill. Otherwise the general idea looks good.

I do both a Hojo Undo session, and a Kumite session during the week after the basis three K model classes I run. I generally tie in a theme, and focus on having at least 20% of what we do being things people can take away and do alone at home. They are training sessions, and are intended as a work out over a lesson where the emphasis is on learning new material or revising old material, but I find it helps my students figure out how to train at home in a constructive manner. I find 9/10 students stay for said sessions, and often the 1 that cannot gives a good reason they cannot but will stay for the session another time. Each to their own, but I have not found conditioning sessions to be something that dissuades people.

[sensei8]

Apparently it's international women's week at the start of March and, to get in the spirit of it, our governing body has written to it's members to encourage them to have a female instruct a class (if the instructor isn't already a female of course). With our two Dan grade females having jobs that don't allow them to a lot of classes and, me being the highest ranking female outside of the Dan grades, that honour has fallen on me. I've been given my choice of night (Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday) I'm thinking as a Tuesday is fitness and conditioning rather than technical stuff, then that's the night to go for. But breaking it down isn't so easy. My rough sketch for a 90 minute class goes something like this:

15 min warm up (shuttle runs, coaching sticks, stretches etc)

20 min medicine ball exercises (twists, drops, throws etc)

20 min pad work hand drills (combinations, speed work)

20 min pad work leg drills (combinations, speed work)

15 min warm down (light jog, stretches)

How does this sound? Too much, not enough, ok? Of course my instructor will be there keeping a careful eye on things and ready to step in should I need him.

Mo.

Sounds good to me. Have fun...and by all means...RELAX...just teach!!

[mazzybear]

Is this a martial arts class, or a fitness class?

Peoples ideas of what a martial arts class consists of varies, but I've always taught my classes so that my students learned martial arts, not building better bodies. That's what they were paying me for. If they wanted to get in better shape, join an aerobics class.

And yes of course, just learning and practicing the arts gets you in better shape, but what the poster described would make me want to look elsewhere for a MARTIAL ARTS CLASS.

As I said in my original post, Tuesday's are conditioning classes. No whites are worn in these classes and it's mainly geared toward keeping us in shape. And the pad work is usually inline with the syllabus work we do on Thursdays and Sunday's, so it is actually geared toward MARTIAL ARTS. I'm just keeping in line with my instructors way of doing things. I am by no means an expert in taking classes, hence why I asked for advice.

Mo.

[mazzybear]

Thanks for the comments guys, I think going by Lupin1 and JR137 suggestions and shorten the 20 min segments down and introduce some other things in to take their place. I've got a few weeks to think on it, so hopefully it comes good in the end. Again thanks for the helpful suggestions. Very much appreciated.

Mo.